Romance

The Romance system in Mass Effect 3 is different than in previous games. When you successfully woo a romanceable character in Mass Effect 3 you will unlock a cutscene, like in previous games, but unlike previous games the cutscene may not involve sex. Viewing a romantic cutscene will get you the Paramour Achievement / Trophy.

Romance Guide

The following sections include mini-walkthroughs for every romanceable character in Mass Effect 3.

Here is a general outline of how individual romance sequences work:

Talk to a character on the Normandy, or in the case of Kaidan and Ashley, visit them in the hospital. Visit them if Traynor tells you they want to see you.

After Citadel 2, each character will email you to meet them somewhere on the Citadel. It is here that you choose to commit or not. Unlike Mass Effect 2, once you've made your choice, all other options are rescinded. You will only see the platonic version of every encounter after that.

Only Male Shepard can romance Ashley Williams. The romance can be started in Mass Effect (1) and rekindled, or started anew. If you rekindle a relationship with Ashley, but had a second relationship in Mass Effect 2, you must make a choice to rekindle the relationship early on in the hospital.

Visit Ashley in the Huerta Memorial Hospital after Priority: Mars. She will email you about her recovery and potential visiting times. You can bring her a Tennyson book to cheer her up and help spark romance. Purchase it in the hospital lobby kiosk.

Male and Female (see the note below) Shepard can romance Kaidan Alenko. The romance can be started in Mass Effect (1) and rekindled, or started anew.

Male Shepherd, don't want to romance Kaidan? Don't buy the Whiskey.

Visit Kaidan in the Huerta Memorial Hospital after Priority: Mars. He will email you about his recovery and potential visiting times. You can bring him a bottle of TM-88 Peruvian Whiskey to cheer him up and help spark romance. Purchase it at the kiosk in the hospital lobby.

Kaidan will then offer to meet you on the Presidium Commons via a private message on your personal terminal. If you have made the correct dialogue choices, Kaidan will bring up a relationship, or Shepard can push for it.

It is possible for FemShep to romance Kaidan if you did not romance him in Mass Effect 1

(note) Kaidan DOES make a pass at Male Shepard in the Presidium Commons after Priority: Citadel 1, with no prior relationship from Mass Effect 1 or 2. This, however, does not indicate or lead to a relationship by itself; rather, visiting Kaidan after Priority: Citadel 1 and bringing him a Bottle of TM-88 Peruvian Whiskey, then visiting him after Priority: Palaven followed by accepting his invitation for lunch on the Presidium are what will grant you the opportunity to romance Kaidan.

Male or female Shepard can romance Liara T'Soni. You can rekindle a relationship from Mass Effect 1 even if you've chosen a different partner in Mass Effect 2 -- but you have to make a choice early on in the game. To start a new romance with Liara, or rekindle an old one follow these steps.

Talk to Liara in her room after every mission. The first time you board Normandy, imported characters can offer to rekindle the relationship. You will not be locked into the relationship at this point.

Check your Personal Terminal and, when you receive a message from Liara about a special project, go to the Captain's Quarters. Use your Terminal in your room to invite Liara up. In the ensuing cutscene with Liara, she'll show you her preservation capsule idea and the article on Shepard. Choose polite options and say you want to be more than friends.

Check your Terminal after this and Liara will invite you to join her on the Citadel. She is in the Presidium Commons, on the bottom level on the opposite side of the entrance. Talk to her here and choose the "more than friends" options again and she and Shepard will kiss.

Note: If you didn't choose Liara as a romantic interest in Mass Effect, or you were not loyal in Mass Effect 2, when she comes to your room to discuss her special project, you do not get the option to become more than friends at that point. The chance for romance doesn't come until you complete Priority: Citadel 2 and at least one other mission.

Following this (probably after doing another mission), she will contact you again and asks for a meeting in person. Meet her in the apartments of the Presidium Commons and you can choose to rekindle your relationship.

Only Female Shepard can romance Garrus. The romance must be started/continued in Mass Effect 2.

After Priority: Palaven, talk to Garrus in the Normandy's main gun battery on the Crew Quarters level. Here you can recommit to Garrus or cancel the relationship. Even after this you can pursue another romance if you wish.

Only Female Shepard can romance Specialist Traynor. Traynor never appears anywhere but the Normandy, but you'll have to remember to talk to her as much as possible to open up the option to romance her.

Talk to Traynor every time you visit the Galaxy Map area of the CIC on the Normandy after a mission.

Traynor will mention liking strategy games in passing after Priority: Citadel 2. After this you will receive a private terminal message about playing a game. Go to your quarters and invite her up. You can make a pass at Traynor at this time. If you've played your cards right, you can let Traynor use your hi-tech shower. You can then join her.

You can talk to Lieutenant Cortez in the Shuttle Bay the first time you board Normandy.

Talk to Cortez later when he's upset and reviewing a log of a friend dying. Tell him to take some personal time on the Citadel.

Talk to Cortez in the docking bay of the Citadel.

Later, talk to Cortez in the lower docking area refugee camp, once it becomes available.

After talking to Cortez in both Citadel locations, he will then appear in the Purgatory dance club on the Citadel. Shepard can commit to Cortez at this point.

Cortez will survive the crash in the [[Priority: Earth 1]] mission if you commit to him at Purgatory, or if you confirm your friendship with him; you do not need to have a relationship with him for him to survive. Spoiler - Click to see/hide

Only Male Shepard can romance Tali. The romance must be started in Mass Effect 2.

When Tali first boards the Normandy after Priority: Geth Dreadnought, you can talk to Tali about rekindling a relationship. This does not commit you to a relationship as of yet.

During the Side Missions but BEFORE Priority: Rannoch, Tali will send you a message. Invite her to your quarters and, in the cutscene, you can recommit to Tali. If you miss this moment, Tali will no longer be romanceable.

Talk to Tali on the Citadel before Priority: Rannoch to choose her side in an argument. She returns to the Citadel after Rannoch as well as a diplomat.

After Priority: Cerberus Headquarters, you can talk to Tali in the bar-like lounge in the Normandy's Crew Quarters. She will be very drunk. She also appears talking to Garrus.

After Rannoch, if you have successfully rekindled a relationship, you can talk to Tali in Engineering of the Normandy to receive a picture of her with her mask off. It appears by your bed. Note: The picture is an edit of a stock-photo. Some fans are angered that more effort wasn't put into the Quarian race/the payoff wasn't worth it.

There is a humorous romantic scene involving Tali and Garrus in the Main Battery before heading to Earth should you choose to commit to another partner.